ὀβελός
Word
Validation
Yes
Word-form
ὀβολῶν
Word-lemma
Etymon-lemma
Transliteration (Word)
obolos
English translation (word)
obol
Transliteration (Etymon)
obelos
English translation (etymon)
spit
Century
2 AD
Source
Idem
Ref.
Onomasticon, 9, 77
Ed.
E. Bethe, Pollucis onomasticon, 2 vols. [Lexicographi Graeci 9.1-9.2. Leipzig: Teubner, 9.1:1900; 9.2:1931]
Quotation
τὸ μέντοι τῶν ὀβολῶν ὄνομα οἱ μὲν ὅτι πάλαι βουπόροις ὀβελοῖς ἐχρῶντο πρὸς τὰς ἀμοιβάς
Translation (En)
The name of the obolōn ("obols"), for some, comes from the fact that, long ago, people used for exchange ox-piercing spits (obelois).
Parallels
Etym. Magnum, Kallierges, p. 613 (ὅτι ὀβολὸς ἐκλήθη, ἐπειδὴ τὸ ἀρχαῖον τὸ χαλκοῦν νόμισμα τῶν Ἀθηναίων ὀβελίσκον εἶχεν. Φώτιος πατριάρχης. [...] Τροπῇ δὲ γίνεται τοῦ ε εἰς ο· πρὸ τούτου γὰρ ὀβελίσκοις τραχέσιν ἐνομίστευον. Οἱ μὲν οὖν Ἴωνες, ὀβελός· ἡμεῖς δὲ, ὀβολός)
Modern etymology
Attic form of ὀβελὀς, with vowel assimilation (Beekes, EDG)
Persistence in Modern Greek
MG still has οβολός (learned word) as the name of Ancient Greek coins and in the metaphoric meaning "small contribution in money". The usual word is όβολο "small coin" (from διώβολος "two obol coin")
Entry By
Arthur de Tocqueville
Comment
Correct explanation